Tweets from the White House: Super Bowl Champion Patriots meet President Barack Obama
As is customary when a professional sports team wins a championship, they get to meet the leader of the free world. In this case, President Barack Obama.
A brief ceremony was held outside of the White House where the president delivered some zingers, praised the team, and then everyone went on their way. Neither Tom Brady or Vince Wilfork were in attendance for the event, but Rob Gronkowski was and did get some light-hearted ribbing from the president. The president also made a DeflateGate joke.
Here are some highlights from the event:
.@BarackObama, Bill Belichick & Robert Kraft take the stage. #OnToTheWhiteHouse pic.twitter.com/9K1GzX7uMp
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) April 23, 2015
President is here. Talks about all the Patriots fans in the White House. "Obviously I didn't screen properly." pic.twitter.com/QCz9p4vWC2
— Phil Perry (@PhilAPerry) April 23, 2015
Obama calls the Patriots as good "as an organization as there's ever been in professional sports."
— Phil Perry (@PhilAPerry) April 23, 2015
Obama: "I'm particularly grateful that Coach decided to dress up. We had some scissors if he wanted to cut the sleeves off."
— Jeff Howe (@jeffphowe) April 23, 2015
It only took 2 minutes for Obama's first Deflategate joke. Belichick gave him a thumbs down.
— Jeff Howe (@jeffphowe) April 23, 2015
Obama: "I had some jokes prepared, but I was afraid 11 of 12 would fall flat." #BOOM https://t.co/LIJxqlQdIY
— Ben Volin (@BenVolin) April 23, 2015
Obama makes a DeflateGate joke, then says that whole story was "blown a little out of proportion."
— Doug Kyed (@DougKyedNESN) April 23, 2015
Obama on Gronk: "I told him to keep his shirt on."
— Jeff Howe (@jeffphowe) April 23, 2015
Obama gives Malcolm Butler a shout out. Big applause from the crowd. President looks for him. "He's small you can't even see him!"
— Phil Perry (@PhilAPerry) April 23, 2015
Obama: Malcolm has earned a lifetime of free drinks in every bar in Boston
— Mark Daniels (@MarkDanielsPJ) April 23, 2015
Kraft gives Obama a game ball and Patriots jersey: "As the leader of the free world, you truly are the ultimate patriot."
— Jeff Howe (@jeffphowe) April 23, 2015
Kraft says he appreciates Obama's loyalty to his hometown #bears, but he should root for an AFC team
— shalise manza young (@shalisemyoung) April 23, 2015
After the ceremony, the president left and Kraft, Belichick, Julian Edelman, Rob Gronkowski and Chandler Jones spoke to the media.
Belichick and his rings pic.twitter.com/1aZRnecTZu
— Mark Daniels (@MarkDanielsPJ) April 23, 2015
Gronk went way off script wondering if president had a couple as a result of Deflategate comments.
— Tom E. Curran (@tomecurran) April 23, 2015
Gronk voices displeasure w/ the President's Deflategate joke. "We're still wondering about that as an organization." pic.twitter.com/fBuIfljlnL
— Phil Perry (@PhilAPerry) April 23, 2015
Asked about Obama's joke, Belichick laughed. "He's a pretty engaging guy." pic.twitter.com/tiitDpDjXj
— Phil Perry (@PhilAPerry) April 23, 2015
Edelman: "It's pretty cool when the President says your name. ... It's insane, actually."
— Jeff Howe (@jeffphowe) April 23, 2015
As Gronk theorized that the president was drunk during his remarks, Julian Edelman just looked at the ground and slowly shook his head.
— Tom E. Curran (@tomecurran) April 23, 2015
